Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has reiterated his offer of talks to the leadership of Balochistan living in exile, saying that he is ready to go to the houses of the veteran politicians of the province for reconciliation. Winding up two days' debate of the joint sitting of National Assembly and Senate on 'Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan' here on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister said the government had never refused to hold negotiations with any stakeholder of Balochistan, including the exiled leadership. He said he was hopeful that the political leadership of Balochistan would adopt a peaceful and democratic course for solution of their problems.
Gilani also invited the dissident political workers to join the mainstream, assuring them that the government had decided to review the role of intelligence agencies in the province. Informing the House about withdrawal of army from the province, he said that army had already been withdrawn from Kholu cantonment on his directives, and Frontier Constabulary (FC) has replaced them in the area.
"I have also directed for withdrawal of army from Sui, and FC would soon replace the armed forces in the Sui area." He said that three wings of FC were being formed in this regard, where locals would be accommodated." Gilani also announced opening of Mand border, and directed the concerned authorities for issuance of notification in this regard, and abolish seven check posts established in Othal, Lehri, Dera Allah Yar, Sheela Bagh, Gowal Islamzai, Zeropoint Turbat Costal Highway and Wasil.
About missing persons, he said that the number of missing persons was being quoted about 6,000 to 8,000 when he took over the government. However, later investigation and scrutiny conducted by the government into the matter revealed that total missing persons were 992 only. The Prime Minister apprised the House that 262 of them had already reached their homes, while rest of them would also meet their relatives soon.
The Prime Minister said decision was taken to release all the political workers except those involved in serious crimes and in this regard 83 cases have already been withdrawn during the last 18 months and 89 more cases would withdrawn following his announcement today.
He said that a fact finding commission was constituted to find out the deaths causes of Balach Murree, Gulan Muhammad Lala Munir, Munir Ahmed and veteran politician Nawaz Akbar Bugti. He said that he had also directed for immediate provision of Rs 1 billion for the flood affected people of Balochistan and also released Rs 1 billion for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Dera Bugti.
A formula for royalty and gas development surcharge has been prepared and issued directives for release of Rs 120 billion due from 1954 to 1991. The representation of Balochistan in ODGC and PSO boards has been made while in the remaining two companies it would be made within week time.
"Every graduate of the province would be provided job and apart from constitutional quota the people of the province would be allocated 5,000 additional jobs in different organisations. Moreover, he said, people of Balochistan would be facilitated through skill development and guidance so that they could avail employment opportunities abroad. Locals would be provided jobs in Coast Guards. The Prime Minister also announced that 1,000 young people of the province would be given jobs through youth internship program.
The Prime Minister termed the day as historic for him and his colleagues as they were able to accomplish, with the backing of Parliament and political leadership of the country, an uphill task of fulfilling the promises made to the people of Balochistan and assured the House that all available resources would be utilised to alleviate their deprivation and bringing them into the mainstream.
The Prime Minister asserted that an effort was made to resolve the problems of the province by adopting a realistic approach so that these grievances could not reemerge in future. The Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package was the outcome of the collective efforts and co-operation of the political leadership of the country including President Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Shujaat Hussain, Altaf Hussain, Fazlur Rehman, Asfandyar Wali, and leaders of FATA and Balochistan.
Gilani said that sincerity and seriousness of the government was evident from the fact that implementation of the package was started in a period of less than two weeks. The Prime Minister expressed hope that 39 recommendations of the package would be an encouraging initiative for constitutional, political, administrative and financial reforms in the province.
The Prime Minister said that the House would also be taken into confidence on Constitutional matters being finalised by the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms. On the political matters, he said, the government has taken solid measures.
About conflicting statements of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Interior regarding foreign interference in Balochistan, he said that he would like to remind the House that the issue was taken up with Indian Prime Minister during his meeting in Sharm-ul-Sheik and it was also included in the joint declaration. He said that a decision would he taken by him to provide evidence of foreign interference in Balochistan at appropriate time and at an appropriate forum.
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